…Nation’s Address to Leg. Speaks of Progress & Challenges ”During the past three years she noted that her administration took major strides towards rebuilding and reintegrating our economy into the world economy. But to fully appreciate the extent of progress, it is better to put things in perspective and remind ourselves where things were at the end of 2005. Owing to poor governance, the UN ban on exports of diamonds and timber products was still in place. Exports valued US$131 million.”
This was the focal pointed statement uttered to the Fourth Session of the 52nd National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia on Monday, January 26, when President Sirleaf delivered her State of the Nation’s address to the National Legislature in fulfillment of Article 58 of the Liberian constitution which states that: “The President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year; present the administration’s legislative program for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic.
Not delving into the statement by the President, the truth is that the national reconstruction task was move to no significant dimension by the defunct National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) when the two years life span faded away in 2005 when the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration of the Unity Party was voted into office. The Sirleaf Government was preferred to its political arch-rival of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) represented in the presidential race by football icon George Manneh Weah otherwise called ‘Opong’ because it was conceived by the majority Madam Sirleaf would use her political experience, economic expertise and social contacts within the global community to advance the nation’s reconciliation and reconstruction agenda.
It was just when the nation was suffocated by a fratricidal war that devastated every fabric of the nation. In spite of the odds, the President has restored the obscure image of the country and has been trying to make Liberia once more life-worthy for its residents. For premier task was to revitalize the national economic and others. Therefore the President made an elaborate speech when she addressed In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditure as well as income” Monday has formally addressed the National Legislature commenting on wide range of issues including economic, security, amongst others.
Economic Revitalization:
In Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s State of the Nation’s address to the National legislature on January 26, 2009, she said the Government’s strategy for accelerating economic growth has three prongs – rebuilding basic infrastructure, restoring production in the natural resource sectors while ensuring that the benefits are widely shared, reducing production cost to lay the foundation for diversification of the economy.
During the past three years, she noted, her administration took major strides towards rebuilding and reintegrating our economy into the world economy. But to fully appreciate the extent of progress, it is better to put things in perspective and remind ourselves where things were at the end of 2005. Owing to poor governance, the UN ban on exports of diamonds and timber products was still in place. Exports valued US$131 million.
The government budget was a paltry US$80 million. Civil servants salaries were as low as US$15 per month. Our roads, not built or maintained for many years, had countless pot-holes, some virtually impassable, resulting into extremely high repair and maintenance costs on vehicles. Large foreign and domestic arrears were accumulating while large revenue leakages persisted.
The Central Bank’s international reserves stood at just a little over US$5 million. Reflecting the underlying concerns about the management of the economy, net outflows of remittances were US$133 million, foreign direct investments was virtually non-existent, and Liberia’s massive external debt had accumulated to over US$4 billion, equivalent to US$1,500 for each Liberian citizen.
Things Have Change In 3-Yrs
The President recounted that three years on, things have changed. Economic growth increased from 5.3 percent in 2005, to 9.5 percent in 2007 with an expected decline to 7.1 percent in 2008 on account of lags in investment starts. According to her, the ban on diamond and timber exports has been removed, the Kimberly Certification Process has been adopted, new forestry law and regulations established, and timber exports are expected to restart in the next few weeks.
President Johnson-Sirleaf said the level of exports rose to US$260 million in 2008. The government’s budget has increased to nearly US$300 million. The lowest monthly civil servants salaries is now US$70 and civil servants salaries are paid sometimes two weeks before the end of the month. “The government’s external and domestic debts are being addressed, and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) international reserves now stands at approximately US$50 million. Additionally, the capital and liquidity positions of banks operating in Liberia have significantly improved, and the exchange rate has been broadly stable, thereby containing inflation,” she noted.
Reflecting confidence in the management of the economy in 2008, she said net inflows of remittances were US$42 million and new foreign direct investments were estimated at US$200 million. Immediately upon our ascendancy, we took swift and decisive action to launch an initial 150-Day Action Plan to address the immediate development challenges, and during the period under review, we completed our first comprehensive PRS after unprecedented national consultations across the fifteen political subdivisions.
The President indicated that from the outset, the administration embraced the international community in an open partnership in Liberia’s reconstruction and development and in the improvement of economic management under the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP). “With strong leadership and commitment by the government, rapid progress was made under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Monitored Program (SMP) in improving the revenue base, strengthening cash management and commitment controls, strengthening the management of the Central Bank’s finances and the fragile banking system, and putting in place a strategy to address corruption and Liberia’s large external and domestic debts,” President told the nation.
The Government’s commitment to sound economic management, according to her, have been well-received by the international community. In April last year the IMF Board approved a three-year program supported by a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) to help maintain macroeconomic stability and achieve the growth objectives under the PRS.
In December 2008, the Liberian leader explained, the Executive Branch of the IMF completed the first review of Liberia’s economic performance under the three year PRGF arrangement, saying that following the Board’s discussion, the Acting Chair summarized their discussion thus, "The Liberian authorities have implemented prudent fiscal and monetary policies and structural reforms under their IMF-assisted program to support postwar reconstruction and economic recovery. Important measures have been taken to strengthen public financial management and fight corruption,” the President further told the National Legislature.
These Successes Attributes to Sound Policies
But Madam Sirleaf attributed these successes to sound policies. She said "Sound policies have contributed to strong economic growth, rising foreign direct investment, a build-up of net international reserves, and broad exchange rate stability. She furthered that economic prospects remain favorable. Nevertheless, the current global slowdown could negatively affect foreign direct investment, exports, and remittance flows. The authorities responded appropriately to the challenges posed by higher fuel and food prices in 2008. Their comprehensive food security strategy focuses on raising domestic food production and securing donor resources to finance social safety net programs. Continued donor support will be essential to ensure the success of the strategy, in view of the limited availability of public resources.” With their completion of the review, SDR 7 million or US$10 million was made available to strengthen our Central Bank reserves.
When her administration assumed office, she remembered that it inherited massive external debt amounting to $4.7 billion US dollars including US$1.6 billion in multilateral debt, US$1.5 billion in bilateral debt and US$1.6 billion in commercial loans and suppliers credit. “This represented a burden far too large for the Liberian people to pay. As I reported last year, we began to rationalize our debt when in December 2007 long overdue amounts to the World Bank and African Development Bank were cleared through grant operations, effectively reducing our debt by US$670 million.
In March 2008, Liberia’s arrears of some US$900 million to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were cleared through new financing arrangements with IMF members. I am thus pleased to report that for the first time in more than two decades, Liberia’s membership rights have been fully restored and returned to good standing with the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
Besides she said her government moved to tackle the bilateral debt. In March 2008, we reached the so-called “Decision Point” of the (HIPC) Initiative, an important milestone in the formal debt relief process. At the “Decision Point”, the international community committed itself to writing-off Liberia’s external debt in line with the HIPC terms. In April 2008, Liberia met with the Paris Club, the group of official bilateral creditors, for the first time in over 25 years.
“We successfully negotiated the most generous terms ever afforded by the Paris Club to a HIPC country at the Decision Point. The agreement provided immediate forgiveness of over US$250 million in debt. The remainder was rescheduled in such as way that Liberia effectively will not be required to make debt service payments for the foreseeable future, and paves the way for ultimate 100 percent forgiveness of our bilateral debts. Several Paris Club creditors have agreed to provide immediate 100 percent debt forgiveness, with full cancellation agreements already signed with the United States (US$425 million), Germany (US$410 million) and Denmark (US$29 million),” she said.
“In 2008, we signed an agreement with the French Government involving the immediate cancellation of approximately US$1.8 million and the rescheduling of approximately US$152 million. This morning, the Minister of Finance and the Norwegian Ambassador signed an agreement involving cancellation of approximately US$32.8 million of our debt obligation to Norway and the rescheduling of the balance US$3.5 million along HIPC terms. We are in the process of concluding agreements with other Paris Club members for the cancellation and/or rescheduling the remainder of our bilateral debt,” President Sirleaf who spent two hours on the podium said in her address.
With respect to commercial debt, she said the Government has met with its commercial creditors three times, and negotiations are proceeding favorably. We are cautiously optimistic that during the course of this year we will reach final agreement with these private sector creditors that will results in a substantial write-down in this segment of our debt.
She said all told, to date, the Government’s negotiations so far have resulted in immediate debt reductions of nearly US$1.5 billion US dollars. The remaining debt is expected to be forgiven when we reach the final stage of the HIPC Process – the “Completion Point” – hopefully by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
However, I should point out that reaching the HIPC Completion Point is dependent on when we achieve all of the Completion Point triggers. These, she indicated, include completion of important reforms that provide assurances of our commitment to sound economic policies that can help the poor and improved governance and that lay the platform for strong growth.
More importantly, we must have enacted and implemented a Public Financial Management Law and its accompanying regulations for at least a year. We must have completed successive audits of key government ministries and agencies, begun the implementation of a revised Investment Incentive Code, enhanced our debt management capacity and ensured the smooth operation of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
“So Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members of the Legislature, the challenge is indeed enormous but I am confident that with your support we can reach the HIPC Completion Point no later than early 2010. This is very important for it is only at that time we can get the fiscal space to access normal sources of financing that would begin to address our development challenges more meaningfully,” she told the Legislature.
Addressing the national Legislature, the President said there has been significant improvement in fiscal management in the past year. As a result she said domestic revenues grew from US$176.18 million in 2007 to US$211.12 million in 2008, a growth of 19.8 percent. Adding the revenue collected in 2008 to the beginning cash balance of approximately US$38.28 million, the total amount available to spend in 2008 was US$249.38 million. The main drivers of revenue growth in 2008 were increased collections of customs revenues on account of the rise in imports as well as increased collections from the mining sector.
On the expenditure side, she exclaimed, “we have continued the policy of a cash-based budget while ensuring the payment of civil servant salaries on time and tackling the large stock of domestic arrears which we inherited. Expenditure for the period under review totaled US$230 million compared with expenditure of US$166.92 million in the previous year, a jump of over 38 percent.”
But she said this significant increase in expenditure in 2008 is explained not only by the increase in the amount available to spend in the budget but also by small measures of strengthening capacity in procurement and efficiency enhancement in budget execution across government institutions. These gains notwithstanding, we must concede that we are still dogged with serious capacity constraints in government institutions as regards understanding of the new public procurement process and bureaucratic hiccups in budget execution.
She furthered that in December 2008, we began the payment of salaries of employees of thirteen government ministries and agencies through direct deposits at commercial banks and will add eleven more ministries to the direct deposit program in February 2009. The goal is to ensure that before the end of April 2009, not less than 90 percent of civil servants are paid through direct deposits.
Another significant step in the direct deposit program will begin in February 2009 when the Ministry of Finance will stop paying vendors through checks but rather through direct deposits to their accounts at commercial banks. These measures are intended to deal with inefficiencies and integrity of our entire payment system. On the revenue side, processes are now underway to improve the custom clearing process, the management of duty free privileges and plug leakages at revenue collectorates across the country, she disclosed.
The President said in 2008, maritime revenue to government totaled US$14.6 million compared with US$13.5 in 2007. “This performance reflects an increase of 10 percent in vessel registration, including 513 new vessels, from 2,665 at 82 million gross tons to 2,926 at 86 million gross tons. Let me say a few additional words regarding our Maritime Program. We have appointed as new managers a group of capable and highly motivated individuals who have already moved the program a long way to more national partnership and control around a broader range of maritime services consistent with the path other registries have followed. They have been given the authority to explore all options for the future management of the program, being only concerned with that which avoids any possible conflict of interest and maximizes national interest and benefits.”
However, she noted that there are still challenges to be met in our fiscal system. Systems development through automation is nearing completion, thereby enhancing accountability and transparency in the budget process. The restructuring and reorganizing of the Ministry of Finance now under way will result in better staffing and stronger capacity. In the longer term, decentralization of some of the operational functions of the Ministry will provide a wider policy and regulatory role for the Ministry of Finance.
“Honorable Legislators, we remain ever grateful to former Finance Minister, Dr. Antoinette Sayeh, for the competence and quality of leadership she brought to our debt relief effort. With our concurrence, the IMF has recognized her capacity and performance by elevating her to the position of Director of the African Department of the IMF where she will continue to serve Liberia within the scope of her African directorship,” Madam Sirleaf said.
According to the President, under guidance of a strongly motivated and reorganized Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Liberia qualified in December for threshold status under the program of the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation. This gave further testimony to the country’s strong governance gains as recognized by the World Bank Institute which ranked Liberia as having made the best progress in fighting corruption. This was echoed by the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance which rated Liberia last year as the most improved country on the continent in terms of governance. Our challenge is to sustain this progress.
Net Foreign Reserves Increased
The Liberian leaders also mentioned in her address that the net foreign reserves position of the CBL increased by US$14.3 million in 2008, bringing the total level of reserves to US$49.4 million. This is significant, she deduced, considering that about three years ago, the reserves were about US$5 million. The continued increase in the Bank’s foreign reserves position enhances its ability to intervene in the foreign exchange market to support stability of the exchange rate and boost the nation’s macroeconomic environment. She cataloged the progressive achievement of her government in the banking sector as followed
a) In 2008, the CBL increased the minimum capital requirement of all commercial banks operating in Liberia from US$2 million to US$6 million. It is expected to be further increased to US$8 million at end-December, 2009 and to US$10 million by end-December 2010.
b) This is intended to make the Liberian banking sector internationally competitive; create the incentive for banks to properly and adequately manage their risks; and put the banking sector in a stronger position to help meet the financing needs of the economy.
c) The total capital of commercial banks increased from US$21 million in 2006 to US$40.5 million by end-December, 2008, largely on account of the injection of new capital. Additionally, the CBL has made significant progress at promoting a banking culture and access to financial services throughout the nation.
d) Currently, there are 28 bank branches in many major population centers throughout a number of counties including Montserrado, Nimba, Margibi, Bong, Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bass. Permission has been granted for bank branches in Maryland. Also, the banking sector has benefited from a number of innovations geared towards improving the payments system. These include the introduction of Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), Short Message Service (SMS), and internet banking.
e) During the year, the number of operational banks increased to six (6) with the opening of United Bank for Africa Liberia (UBAL). The CBL granted provisional licenses to three international banks: Guaranty Trust which will be capitalized at US$10 million, Access Bank Liberia Limited – The Microfinance Bank, which will have an initial capital of US$6 million, and Oceanic Bank which will be capitalized at US$8 million. This will bring to nine the number of banks operating in Liberia during the course of 2009.
f) Through prudent monetary policy management and the conduct of the CBL weekly foreign exchange auction, the readily available monetary policy instrument to the Bank, the L$/US$ exchange rate remained broadly stable during the course of the year. In our society where most of the people live below the poverty line, this is very important as it provides some protection to the purchasing power of the domestic currency.
g) Inflation declined from a peak of 26.5 percent in August to 9.4 percent at end-December, 2008, much lower than inflation rates in many countries in the region. This is an indication of a progressive downward movement in the general price level in the economy.
h) The high volume of non-performing loans in the sector remains a concern largely due to the poor credit culture of individuals and inability of the court system to enforce commercial contracts. A fast-track court to deal with financial and commercial contracts will help improve the climate for lending.
Notwithstanding, she said the numerous strides made by the Central Bank, the year was not without its fair share of challenges. “Thanks to the vigilance of an employee and internal controls at the Bank, a scam involving the recycling of some government checks was uncovered. This was a matter of collusion, which in most cases will defeat internal control measures put in place,” she said
She also said, “This unscrupulous conduct provides ample evidence that ‘the lack of integrity’ is a cancer that pervades all segments of our society. Although this scandal is suspected to involve a collusion of participants across multiple governmental ministries/agencies, every CBL employee suspected of involvement were immediately suspended and turned over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution where necessary. Additionally, the CBL is restructuring its Banking Department and has hired a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as its internal auditor.
Agriculture Effective in Poverty Reduction
The President address also touched the agriculture and forestry sector of the country. She said there is no doubt that growth in agriculture is more effective in reducing poverty than effort in any other sector. In the agriculture sector, she noted:
a) We sought to expand domestic food production with emphasis on rice so as to reduce the substantial import bill for this strategic commodity. Although this was not Government funding, it is important to note that rice import cost our economy over US$200 million last year. In response we have signed and you have ratified two concession agreements for aggregate investment of US$32.5 million for rice production in Lofa and Grand Cape Mount Counties. A continuation of support to small farmers by providing seeds, tools and processing machines will add impetus to this effort and the reactivation of agriculture research at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) has proven instrumental in this regard.
b) Revitalization of our traditional rubber industry, she also maintained, is critical to the long term growth potential of our agriculture export sector. During the year we experienced a sharp fall in production due to low yields from old and damaged trees and a decline in demand on account of the global financial crisis. An aggressive ongoing replanting program by Liberian farmers and by the large existing plantations – Firestone, Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), Morris American Rubber (MARCO) – is expected to boost production in the medium term.
c) She said When negotiations are concluded with Sime Darby of Malaysia for reactivation and expansion of the Guthrie Plantation; with Salala Rubber Investment Ltd. from the United Kingdom and Internationale De Plantation D’Heveast (SIPH) of France for the Cavalla Plantation in Maryland County, and with Sithe Global of the United States, overall concession production of rubber and oil palm should experience significant expansion. Ongoing effort to attract investment for reactivation of the Decoris Oil Palm plantation in Maryland County and the Cocopa rubber plantation in Nimba County should bring similar results.
d) The Forestry Sector, she re represents one of Liberia’s greatest assets. Our total forestry land area of 9.58 million hectares represents one of the 36 hot spots in the world with diverse plant and animal species and 240 timber species. The sector has been slow in meeting its performance and revenue targets due to the difficulties experienced in meeting the requirements of the New Forestry Law. Six timber sales contracts for Liberian timber operators have commenced in Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount County. Two large-sized revised Forestry Management contracts for operations in Rivercess have been signed and submitted to you for ratification while a third in Lofa and Gbarpolu is being processed for submission to you.
All forest operations may suffer additional delays as we seek a solution to the conflict which exists between the Forestry Law and the Forest Community Rights Law. This may please local and external conservationists but will harm the employment and social benefits that would accrue to our communities. Thus, effort is required to strike a right balance in our goals of commercialization, conversation and community benefits.
The president also report progress in the reactivation of our mining sector to the Honorable Legislators, saying that although affected by the current global crisis, the Yekepa Mines reactivation is on course with Arcelor Mittal which has reaffirmed its commitment to the activities detailed in its concession agreement but with a possible slow down that would result in the first export in 2010 rather than 2009.
On the other hand, she said the government expects full speed ahead with China Union under the recently signed concession agreement for US$2.6 billion, the largest size investment in our country’s history, once you have ratified the concession agreement.
Moreover, when ongoing processes and negotiations are concluded, we look forward to operations by the America Liberia Company in the gold fields of Cocoya in Bong County, Karweakan in Grand Gedeh County, Klekle in Montserrado County, and Cestos gold fields in Rivercess County. “We look forward to operations by BHP Billiton in the Kitoma iron ore mines in Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties and similar operations by Mano River Resources in the Putu iron ore range in Grand Gedeh County. When one of the six companies that are involved in the rebidding process is chosen before the middle of this year, we expect the start up of operations in the Western Cluster iron ore mines of Bomi and Gbarpolu counties,” President Sirleaf intimated. .
She also reported significant progress in our oil exploration program. Three dimensional seismic surveys, which are more detailed have started by the five companies which obtained ratified Production Sharing Contracts. A second bid round for three blocks were concluded during the year under review. Anadarko of the United States and Hong Kong Tong-Tai Petroleum Corporation of Hong Kong were successful in this bid. Production Sharing Contracts for this next phase of exploration will be forwarded for your review and ratification when negotiations are concluded, she disclosed.
Several other investment, she disclosed, are underway or under consideration in the service sector – construction, housing, and hotels. Notably among these is the Robert L. Johnson / OPIC US$30 million to support Liberian businesses and the soon to be launched construction of two new housing estates; a 1,200 unit on the Robertsfield highway by Broad Cove/OPIC of the United States and a 10,000 unit by Haiman Century Investment of China. “We are aware that there is need to rehabilitate or complete several public buildings in Monrovia and in other counties. There is also urgency in restoring the nation’s seat of Government – the Executive Mansion. Effort is underway to mobilize the significant resources required to achieve this objective.” She said.
The National Investment Commission (NIC) also reports that during last year, a total of eighteen investment contracts were signed for an aggregate value of US$132.5 million and creation of 2,287 jobs. In the area of commerce, total trade continue to expand with exports at a value of US$181.05 million and imports US$856.81 million. This trend is matched by the increase in the number of businesses registered, 7,569 in 2008 compared with 6,764 in 2007.
Yet, she said. “We have not seen the expected growth in Liberian businesses, nor have we been able to take advantage of our eligibility for the African Growth and opportunity Act. Moreover, we continue to be concerned about the continued high prices of commodities on the market, relating not only to world market prices but to high taxes, profiteering, theft and inefficiency at the port of Monrovia. The Ministry of Commerce which has taken bold steps recently to address these issues give assurance that we can expect progress in responding to these concerns in this year.
She then pointed out that as a part of our economic reform agenda, appropriate steps are being taken to develop a comprehensive corporate governance framework with the goal of improving the efficiency and increasing the productivity of state owned enterprises and public parastatals.
“Mr. President of the Senate, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Legislators, our vision is clear and detailed in our Poverty Reduction Strategy. Liberians want to build a new nation that is peaceful, secure and prosperous, with democratic and accountable governance based on the rule of law and with abundant employment and other economic opportunities. Our critical objective over the next three years is to be on an irreversible path toward this goal – to achieve rapid, exclusive and sustainable growth and development, to build the capabilities of and provide new opportunities for Liberia’s greatest asset, its people; to establish responsible institutions of justice, human rights and governance,” she divulge her intention for Libneria, saying, “This is our vision and our commitment which can only be achieved when the majority of our people share in the vision and are willing to participate positively and constructively in the processes of reform and change.”
She at the same function reported on the state of the nation, the progress made and the challenges being faced under the four pillars of our development agenda which include PEACE AND SECURITY, GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW, In doing so, and in the interest of not keeping you sitting as long as last year, I will provide main highlights leaving details for you to read in the text that will be distributed to you and posted on the Executive Mansion Website: http://www.e-mansion.com/ .
On peace and security, she said: “Let us all be thankful to God and to the Liberian people as we enter our sixth year of peace. This has been made possible by the continued support which we receive from the United Nations Security Council in providing the United Nations Mission which includes a Peace Keeping Force with a current strength of 12,065. An agreed gradual drawdown plan is expected to see a meaningful size force in the country through the 2011 elections.
“Under the security sector reform, our target for the new Armed Forces of Liberia has been met with the current strength of 2057 personnel. This includes 773 formed into military police units, an engineering company, garrison departments and a brigade training unit. Expanded and improved facilities at the Edward Binyah Kesselly Barrack in Schefflin, the Sandee Ware Barracks in Careysburg and the newly renovated Tubman barracks in Gbarnga will accommodate our troops. Under the Defense Act, we have commenced the reestablishment of our Coast Guard with forty persons in initial sailor training to commence initial operations when facilities at the port are rehabilitated and vessels and other equipment are ready by the end of the year.
“The Liberia National Police (LNP) had attained and surpassed its initial goal set by the United Nations of training a new core of 3,500 personnel. Using that figure in comparison with the population of over 3.5 million, it means that on the average one police officer services 1,000 citizens. There is therefore a need for infusion of more officers in the New Year, a process that has already begun.
“The LNP, in its continued drive to upgrade its effectiveness and responsiveness to crimes in the community, graduated the first 139 approved 500 contingent Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the LNP. The Unit is now fully operational, assisting the Police Support Unit (PSU) and the regular police units combat crimes in the nation. It is anticipated that the full strength of the ERU will be attained during the course of 2009.
“The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) reports that during the year a total of 235,495 legal aliens were admitted into the country, 101 aliens were refused admission, and 191,098 departed the country. It also records that a total of 44 Liberians were deported from the United States of America and several hundred Liberians repatriated from Ghana.
“The incidence of drug trafficking in our sub-region is of increasing concern. During the year our Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) arrested 267 persons including 244 Liberians for drug offences and the Agency continues to be active in the destruction of marijuana plants some of which are grown in certain parts of the country. A continuing problem still to be effectively addressed, the Liberia National Fire Service recorded 147 fires during the year which resulted in 11 casualties, 32 injuries and damages totaling about US$1.2 million.
“With a few exceptional lapses, the Special Security Service (SSS) improved its performance with training and instructional support from the US Advisory Team.
“We continue to face challenges in all of our security units in terms of integrity and attitude reminiscent of the past. However, government must take responsibility in encouraging better performance by doing more to improve their living and work conditions. This is particularly true for those who are to serve in rural areas. We must also find more effective means to deal with the menace of armed robbery. I ask your support in providing the budgetary resources that will enable us to do so and I will engage the Judiciary Branch in an effort to obtain quick and effective action against those criminals who continue to harm and steal from hard working innocent citizens.
“The National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Resettlement and Reintegration (NCDDRR) is nearing completion of training of the residual caseload of 7, 388 disarmed and demobilized ex-combatants and will wind down its activities by mid year. There is need for assistance to the Commission to retire honorably the 53 ex-generals of the AFL and warring factions that have assisted in bringing this program to successful conclusion.
“The Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), as the refugee agency of Government, completed the process that resulted in 326,990 of the 400,000 displaced persons returned to their communities. Those commissions also worked with the concerned Ministries of Government to address the problems of refugees in the Budumburan camp in Ghana. As a result, some 10,000 of a total refugee population of approximately 26,000 have returned home, several of whom are benefiting from programs of capacity building and skills training, employment and a moderate micro credit loan scheme.
Governance And The Rule Of Law
On Governance and the Rule of Law, the Ptresident said. “Under the third pillar of the PRS, Governance and the Rule of Law, we seek to reform the civil service, decentralize governance, strengthen the rule of law and respect for human rights, promote a strong and responsible civil society including the media, encourage broad participation in governance and reduce corruption.
“We are pleased to report that consistent with our goals, we have county development agendas, linked to the Poverty Reduction Strategy, for all fifteen counties. This represents the first such local development plans which were prepared under the guidance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the participation of local authorities and representatives of the society at large.
“Currently under review by the Cabinet are several documents completed by the Governance Commission – the National Public Sector Policy statement, a Report on the Rationalization and Restructuring of Ministries and Agencies of Government, a National Policy on Decentralization. Draft legislation where applicable including that which establishes a Law Reform Commission will be submitted to you within the next few months.
“As stated earlier, during the year in review, we increased the minimum salary for civil servants to US$70 representing a composite 400 percent increase during this administration. We still have inherited arrears totaling nearly US$17 million representing over 18 months salaries to civil servants which will be fully retired during the course of this year while we finalize plans to address long standing and substantial Foreign Service arrears.
“A comprehensive Civil Service Reform Strategy is now concluded covering compensation and pension to improve service delivery and to use performance as the main criterion for recruitment, selection and promotion. Additionally, we have in place three incentive programs under which some 150 nationals at home and abroad bring added capacity and professionalism to public service. Several now serve in our local governance system in the rural areas bringing significant added value to the rural civil service outreach program that was launched during the year.
“The final draft of Liberia’s first National Employment Policy including proposal for the establishment of a National Bureau of Employment is in the final review process. In the interim, short term job initiatives by the Ministry of Labor have created close to 35,000 short term job opportunities in various sectors especially waste management, sanitation and public works. The final draft of a revised Labor Code is also under review and we expect to propose a new minimum wage for the private sector before the end of this year.
“I should also note that the merger of the two labor centers – the Liberia Federation of Labour Unions (LFLU) and the Congress of National Trade Unions of Liberia (CONATUL) into the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) will facilitate consultation and enable the labor union to play a more effective role in enhancing labor rights, in improving the terms and conditions of work for employees and in the settlement of disputes.
“We commend, and we believe you share this sentiment, the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union (FAWUL) for the prestigious George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award which they received last year from the American Federation of Labor Union (AFL-CIO).
“Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the Legislature: Under guidance of the Supreme Court and with the participation of the Ministry of Justice as appropriate, our judicial system is undergoing long needed reform. Judges, Magistrates, County Attorneys and other judicial officials now enjoy higher levels of compensation and better working conditions.
“Several challenges remain. The Court system seems excessively slow in its processes and dispensation of justice – ultimately judgment. For example, we continue to receive complaints that prisoners are incarcerated without trial for periods as long as and over a year. The Jury system also gives concerns as persons considered professional jurors with compensation as prime motivation move from one court to the other.
“To enhance the Justice system, the Ministry of Justice collaborating with the Judicial Branch, has organized a judicial setting at the Monrovia Central Prison where Magistrates will dispose of cases thereby reducing the high level or number of unindicted prisoners. There has also been established a Criminal Court E which will commence work in February to deal exclusively with gender based violence and the unacceptable high level of rape cases stemming from the violation of young girls, sometimes babies, by cowardly and mentally deranged sex fiends.
“The Ministry of Justice has also established a Special Legal Task Force to speed up the prosecution of those charged with corruption and is working through the Anti Corruption Commission to obtain order from the court to freeze the assets of persons being investigated or tried for corruption. To its credit, the Ministry has compiled most of the laws passed by this Legislature and opinions handed down by this Supreme Court with the intent to edit and publish these works during this year.
“Honorable Legislators, I am aware that despite strong political will and commitment of this Government, the Executive will face a serious challenge in sustaining the gains made in combating corruption given recent public outcry and media reports on perceived corruption in the public sector. Overcoming this challenge will require the collective effort and political will not only on the part of the Executive but by all three branches of Government.
Gender Issues & Women’s participation
The President also said the government has been making efforts to promote gender equity and enhance the role and participation of women made significant progress during the past year. For the first time, Liberia’s report on national progress in compliance with UN Resolution on the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was completed in that connection and a National Rural Women Program was launched and a project commenced to build safe homes and establish micro credit operations for women in five counties.
“Two innovative interventions will enhance our gender initiative – a US$22 million equivalent grant proposal by the Danish Government to support a program that would make Liberia a model country for the achievement of Millennium Development Goal #5 and a Nike Foundation/World Bank Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girl project that seeks to train 1,500 young women for direct employment placement in our country’s private sector.
“Honorable Legislators, we are also pleased to note that The Liberia Education Trust (LET) and the Sirleaf Market Women Fund (SMWF) continue to expand operations in providing scholarships for girls, promoting literacy programs for market women and building schools and markets throughout the country.
“Resources mobilized for these projects total over US$6 million, contributed solely by private institutions, foundations and individuals in response to my personal appeal and my participation in fund raising events. The Minister of Gender and Development and the Chair person of the African Women Development Fund, Dr. Thelma Awori have been very instrumental in our success under these two interventions.”
Besides, the President indicated that government will continue to identify measures that respond to our youths who comprise over 45 percent of our population. We are pleased to note that during the year some 1,306 youths benefited from internships and apprenticeship programs primarily in Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties. She said a vacation program, the National Youth Volunteer Service which was launched in 2006 completed a first phase this year with 67 youths serving for six months in rural areas in the health and education sectors.
According to her, “Emphasis on the training and employment of youth remain a Government priority. I would therefore like to assure our young citizens that the Youth Policy document which was completed during the year can be launched immediately. Our delay and concern regard the generality of the provisions of that document. Realistically, only specific elements of that policy can be carried forward into law that is enforceable. I therefore appeal to the youth representatives, particularly the Federation of Liberian Youth to appoint representatives who will work with us to achieve the objectives of finalizing a direct Act whose provisions can be respected and enforced.
“We are equally pleased to report that Liberia won the championship for the second Amputee African Nations Cup and the second place in the Guinea ECOWAS cycling tour for peace. We also witnessed and participated in a successful county Meet which saw Sinoe and Rivercess win the basketball and kickball competition. Bomi County successfully competed with River Gee County, to win the football competition. I am also pleased to note Liberia’s participation the Beijing Olympics.
He speech did touch on efforts by government to strengthen its information dissemination and public awareness apparatus. “Government continues to strengthen its information dissemination and public awareness apparatus. Although the challenges are many, we have made a number of strides in this regard. We held a country-wide competition to solicit names for our Poverty Reduction Strategy, and at the end of a two-week naming search, my Cabinet and I settled on the name ‘Lift Liberia,’ suggested by Dr. Shadrack Bryant, a Liberian residing in Gardnesville.
“This was just the beginning of branding our national development agenda. The Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the Executive Mansion, has developed a comprehensive Communications Strategy for the PRS that includes a number of non-conventional tools for engagement. This is now in the implementation phase and will require a mass effort by all of us to fund the Strategy. The Ministry of Information has also collaborated with media development agencies and the Press Union of Liberia to draft and submit three acts to the Legislature establishing an independent commission to regulate broadcast media, making freedom of information a law, and establishing a public broadcasting entity. We ask your early action in passing these Acts into Law.
“MICAT has also established a “war room” to gather, analyze and respond to reports in the media that require clarification or follow up; revitalized the Liberia News Agency (LINA); re-stocked artifacts at the National Museum; and established the Bai T. Moore research room as a center for learning and appreciation of Liberia’s rich cultural heritage; and revamped the New Liberia Newspaper and its website, (www.newliberia.com.lr ). In continuance of MICAT’s mandate to harness public information dissemination, ministries and autonomous agencies continue to strengthen relations with the independent media through weekly press briefings and regular interactions.
“New news is provided on a daily basis on our Executive Mansion website http://www.emansion.gov.lr/, whose hits increased from 5 million in 2007 to 8 million in 2008, the Executive Mansion. Because we understand the fundamental importance of information dissemination as a tool of empowerment, fourteen Government ministry websites are now accessible and fully stocked with customized information related to the PRS. A number of autonomous agencies are also online, and we will continue to work to bring ‘Government to the people’ via the World Wide Web.
Army Worm Invasion
She also commented on the invasion of Liberia by an armyworms in central and northern Liberia. “I know that we all share the alarm and the deep concern over the emergence of the army or tent worms which have invaded our county with the potential to set back our progress in the production of food and export crops. Ongoing investigation show that 62 communities in Bong and some parts of Lower Lofa and Gbarpolu counties involving some 350,000 inhabitants many have already been affected. Five of the twenty-eight affected communities in Zota District of Bong County are bordering neighboring Guinea and there are indications that several villages in Guinea are now experiencing similar invasion.
“This is indeed a crisis and I hereby declare a state of National Emergency with particular emphasis on the existing and potentially affected counties.
“The government has taken immediate initial steps to respond to the crisis. A Task Force under the Ministry of Agriculture with support of the Ministry of Health has been established. The technical team has identified and classified the species and has commenced spraying in the affected areas. Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced. Meetings have been held with our partners and several international organizations have responded to our appeal and will be sending experts and supplies to supplement our effort.
“More effort and more resources are required if we are to be successful in containing this problem. I have therefore instructed the Minister of Finance to identify budgetary resources from any source possible that can be used to meet the needs that are required. He knows that this will not be the time for long procurement procedures and bureaucratic hurdles.
“I have also called upon our partners for urgent response to our appeal and I expect to review the effectiveness of our combined response when I meet with them on Wednesday.
CORRUPTION
Perhaps the greatest challenge faced the government over the past several months is corruption. It is a national malaise, long standing and deeply entrenched in all levels of society. It stems from years of depravation, poor salaries, lack of a pension scheme at the lower levels, and an environment of impunity and tolerance of greed at higher levels.
The fight against corruption has started. Through investigations, auditing and whistle blowing, we are uncovering and exposing acts of corruption. Officials have been suspended, fired and turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution and/or restitution of government assets. At the same time, we have increased the compensation and pension for civil servants, concluded the biometric program for civil servants, removed ghost names from the payroll, strengthened the Government Auditing Commission, adopted an Anticorruption Policy and Strategy, established an Anticorruption Commission, and established the Liberian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative going beyond the required to include revenues from forestry operations.
Honorable legislators, I am happy to note that for once in the history of our country, the fight against corruption has been elevated to a pedestal of prominence and widespread public concern which bears testimony to the success of our strategy. Now unlike in the past, we have a capacitated the Auditing Commission and audit reports are now being received. Now, unlike in the past, we have an Anti-Corruption Commission that will be playing a frontal role in the investigation of corruption. Now, unlike in the past, we have a free press that is not intimidated by big powers when alleged acts of corruption are reported, even though the press themselves sometimes get their facts wrong. Now unlike in the past, the man in the street can call on a talk-show and freely express himself on issues of corruption. That corruption has gained such a prominence in our national debate, is in itself a commendable achievement of this regime. For one way to deal with a chronic sore is to expose it to sunshine. Unfortunately however, our success in exposing this menace to the sunshine has yielded unintended consequences as it has led to the mistaken belief in some quarters that corruption is on an upward swing just because the reportage of corruption has increased today as compared to the past. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Honorable legislators, the fight against corruption does not come to an end with the mere exposure of corruption. We must act. The Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary must act decisively and collaboratively to deal with the scourge. On the side of the Executive we have taken some actions are will take other drastic actions in the coming weeks and months. However, we must act methodically, maturely, and judiciously, and not haphazardly just to satisfy the whims of a critic.
The steps we have taken thus far in the war against corruption helped us move up in the rankings and was recognized by the World Bank and the Mo Ibrahim governance indicators as one of the countries having made best progress in fighting corruption.
Yet, Honorable Legislators, serious challenges still remain in this battle for which we have been criticized. This largely has to do with the slow process involved in the prosecution of those who have violated the public trust. This is a matter of justice and of judicial process which we have to respect. Unfounded and misdirected accusations will only undermine the government’s effort and discourage the investors we need to expand our economy with benefits to all segments of society. We also know that all of these measures and progress will not produce the truly sustainable results which we seek unless there are systems improvements, and professional and apolitical financial audits.
However, we have not and will not relent in moving this process forward and we will take other harsh measures to ensure that this battle is won. We cannot do this alone. Your help, the help of civil society, the help of the media, the religious institutions, and the National Bar Association will be required, for we know that corruption lies deep at the foundation of our country’s underdevelopment.
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT FUND
Mr. Speaker, Honorable Legislators:
For the first time in the history of our nation, this Administration allocated a total amount of US$9.5 million, specifically for the counties in a process that allowed for the determination of development priorities by the people themselves. In the recast budget February to June, we provided US$1 million, 2006/2007 US$2.5 million; 2007/2008 US$30 million; and 2008/2009 – which was allocated equally for each county. This allocation adopted the same principle of participation by the people and you added a role of the county Legislative caucus in the Budget Act.
Although many projects have been constructed in the counties to the satisfaction of the residents, much leaves to be desired to obtain maximum results from this important initiative.
We are thus in the process of introducing changes in order that the process is truly participatory, that goods and services are provided locally as much as possible and that systems of accountability are more rigorous and transparent with more effective oversight and reporting by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
An Independent Inspection Task force headed by Mr. Sam Jackson has been established to visit the projects in all counties so as to provide the information and advice that will enable us to achieve these objectives.
I ask that with these measures, the Legislature should withdraw from its active role in the determination and implementation of these projects. This will allow the Executive to take full responsibility in carrying out its role as dictated by the constitution without prejudice to your oversight role as also dictated by the Constitution.
Food, Fuel & Financial Crises
Honorable Legislators, in the last three years, we have seen a steady acceleration of growth, with the economy growing 8 percent in 2006, 9.5 percent in 2007, and then an estimated 7.1 percent in 2008. This latest dip reflects the challenges that the economy faced in the last year. Most notably, during the year under review, the global economy was buffeted by a trinity of crises - the food, fuel, and financial crises, presenting untold challenges for the government and the people of Liberia..
First, food and fuel prices rose on the world market, with the price of rice doubling and fuel and electricity costs increasing, causing great hardships here in Liberia. While still grappling with the adverse effects of the food and fuel crises, a third crisis, dubbed the “financial crisis” reared its ugly head. Having its origins in the US sub-prime home mortgage market, the financial crisis precipitated a credit crunch and set off panic in the global economy, leading to the collapse of leading financial institutions in the US and Europe and a precipitous drop in global demand for key commodities.
Honorable legislators, the financial crisis has to a large extent been a ‘mixed curse” for Liberia. For on the one hand, it occasioned downward movements in the prices of two of our most strategic imports, rice and fuel, thereby bringing much needed relief to our people; but on the other, it has led to a significant drop in the prices of our key exports, especially rubber and iron-ore and consequently poses a threat to our revenue generating capacity.
As a way of mitigating the adverse impacts of the crisis on our populace, we took a number of measures including the elimination of tariff on rice imports which translates to revenue forgone of nearly US$9 million in the current budget, eliminated personal income tax on all persons in the public and private sector earning monthly incomes of US$70 and below, waived duties on agricultural and construction equipment. We also more than quadrupled the subsidy to a well performing Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA) to enabled it acquire more buses and critical spare parts, and we doubled the budgetary appropriation of the Ministry of Agriculture to enable it tackle pre and post-harvest losses sustained by our farmers.
Besides steps taken domestically to cushion the impact of the crises on the population, we engaged our partners to help us steer through the turbulence. We are accordingly grateful to the World Bank for a US$10 million dollar assistance to be used to feed vulnerable segments of our population and for cash for work programs, to the African Development Bank for an estimated US$4.5 million and to the Japanese Government for an as yet to be realized US$6 million equivalent to cover rice imports. We also have received from the World Food Program, a commitment of US$41 million over a three year period for food supply and agriculture development.
More precisely, the financial crisis led to a sharp decline in the price of rubber. From October 2008 to January 2009 rubber prices dropped from US$1,425 to US$525 per ton, thus interrupting the operations and replanting programs of thousands of small and medium sized plantations and will result in unemployment, lost income and reduced government taxes for the large farms and plantations, perhaps as high as US$3 million in the next year. We have already received formal notice or indication of a reduction in the size of planned investment and a slow down in operations of those ongoing.
Our Central Bank will be hit by loss of income from reduced interest rates on their foreign deposits. Commercial banks and local beneficiaries have felt the blow from reduced remittances from abroad which affect local investment and consumption. The opportunity side of this crisis is that we must do more to encourage local production, particularly food and we must move quickly in our effort to reactivate and replant traditional export crops such as rubber, oil palm, coffee and cocoa so that we are positioned to benefit when the production swings once again to buoyant world commodity prices.
Yet, it is important that the government responds to the crisis in pursuit of the objectives stated by providing some stimuli no matter how moderate given the existing fiscal constraints.
Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members of the Legislature, we are therefore pleased to propose the following measures:
• Reduction of the Business Income Tax rate from 35% to 25%
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• Reduction of the Personal Income Tax Rate from 35% to 25%
• Reduction in the presumptive tax on businesses with turnovers above L$201,000 from 4% to 2% of their gross quarterly income
• Reduction of the Ecowas Trade Levy from 1% to 0.75%.
• Elimination of the 2% advance tax as a minimum tax on businesses with turnovers above L$5 million
• These tax rate revisions form part of the comprehensive revision of the Revenue Code which is presently being finalized. However, in order to ensure that the Liberian people begin to benefit from the relief that is embedded in these tax reductions, I will be submitting my proposals for tax reductions in the next few days in advance of the submission in advance of a comprehensively revised revenue code that will also be shortly submitted.
In addition to these tax reduction measures, I am also pleased to note the following measures: 1) as a result of market forces of supply and demand, the official price of butter rice has been reduced from US$35 to US$30.
2) an opening of the rice market to other importers for all grades of rice, except those prohibited for the protection of citizens
3) The establishment of a US$1 million facility at the Central Bank for the purchase of paddy rice from local producers. This will serve as an incentive to stimulate production in the coming planting season. I am also pleased to announce the launch of a pilot program whereby ten persons each from all 14 counties not including Montserrado who are resident in Monrovia and willing to relocate to another county or to their county of origin will be provided 5 acres of land in fee simple for the planting of rice or tree crops for which seeds and cutting will be provided.
4) Reduction of Import Duty and Goods and Services Tax on buses 24-seater or above from a total of 18% to 2.5%. This measure is intended to encourage private sector actors to intervene more robustly in the transport sector as a means of alleviating the hardship our people encounter in getting transport.
In order to give added incentive to the margin of preference for Liberian businesses that is included in the revised Incentive Code that will soon be presented to you, the Economic Management Team of the Government is presently considering the establishment of a US$2 million guarantee fund at the Central Bank to support Liberian businesses. The criteria and modalities for operationalising such a scheme are also being considered.
Partnership
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, our nation continues to enjoy strong partnership from all over the world. In our own region and continent, sisterly states of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Rwanda assist in providing logistics and training in our security sector. Morocco, Egypt and Namibia support our training initiatives. On the bilateral side, our key partner is the United States joined by China, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Japan, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The support from these partners is directed at all sectors and are increasingly harmonized and coordinated toward support of the development agenda set forth by the PRS. This coordinated approach will guide the allocation of some US$300 million to support the Health and Education Pool Funds as well as to the Liberia Infrastructure Fund which was established at the June Berlin Meeting and has a current commitment of approximately US$127 million.
Our multilateral partners, which include the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Africa Development Bank and the United Nations System are equally supportive and active. The World Bank has provided support of nearly US$100 million for economic governance, rehabilitation of infrastructure and urban waste management and agriculture development. The IMF through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility approved in December will provide US$10 million worth equipment in support of the capitalization of the Central Bank while the Africa Development Bank has provided support of US$39 to support institutional capacity building and infrastructure development, particularly road rehabilitation. The United Nations System which serves as a financial interceptor and manager for other multilateral funds provided through its several agencies and funds, an estimated additional US$150 million. This does not include allocation for the operations of UNMIL which is correctly estimated at US$600 million annually.
Honorable Legislators, we are pleased to report that while previously the vast majority of external support was channeled through NGOs and contractors, the year 2008 saw a significant increase in donor support to the Government’s budget. We thank the Government of France for US$1.2 million; the Government of China for US$1 million, both sums already allocated in the 2007/2008 supplemental budget. We now expect US$5 million from the World Bank and US$18 million from the Africa Development Bank which will cover expected revenue shortfall and cover specific expenditure items.
We continue to enjoy the confidence and support from non official partners. The Soros Foundation and Open Society Initiative has provided support on the order of US$20 million for our Education Pool Fund, our economic and legal advisory services, our Senior Executive and Capacity Development Program. The McCall MacBain Foundation has committed over US$10 million in eleven grants to support our urban transport program with ten buses to the Monrovia Transit Authority, construction of children playgrounds in Montserrado, Maryland, Sinoe and Grand Gedeh through the NGO Right to Play, the construction of the Midwifery School in Zwedru, and the biomass Power Plant whose concession agreement is before you. There is also the Scott Family Fellowship which provides funding of US$1 million to support six young professionals to serve in the public service over a period of three years. The program has been expanded to nine additional fellows with support from the Soros Foundation. They add great value to our capacity development. We also continue to receive support from several foundations, institutions and individuals for programs under the Liberia Education Trust and the Sirleaf Market Women Fund.
In September last year, we organized in New York, with philanthropist George Soros a first Foundation Partnership Meeting intended to achieve more harmony and coordination of programs by our foundation partners. A Secretariat has been established in our Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC) to follow up and institutionalize this coordination.
International Relations
Honorable Legislators, the guiding principles of Liberia’s foreign policy is the maintenance of national security for the protection of our territorial integrity and sovereignty, the promotion of peace and harmony and unity among nations in our region, continent and the world. There are currently eighteen diplomatic missions resident in Monrovia, twenty eight non resident Ambassadors accredited to the Republic, one Honorary Consul and one Consulate General. An additional six Ambassadors have received their Agrement and await presentation of their letters of credence.
Liberia maintains abroad twenty-two diplomatic missions, including the mission to Senegal opened last year, and two consular posts. We are pleased that our foreign envoys, charged with promoting the principle of economic diplomacy, now enjoy a better level of compensation which as at home, is paid on time. We are also pleased that Liberia has regained its place in pride and reputation throughout the world. We expect a further enhancement of this image when the new passports that are ready for issuance commencing June of this year, bring to an end the use of our passport by those who obtained same through fraudulent means.
We should also report that significant progress was made during last year in the legal step being taken to reclaim government properties in Paris, Nairobi and other places that were sold or pledged against personal loans by unscrupulous officials of the past who will be exposed as soon as those cases have been concluded. We must also note that we are pursuing legal action against certain of our current official serving abroad who continue to engage in corrupt practices in collusion with officials at home.
Honorable Members of the Legislature, I am pleased to report that as a result of a positive image abroad and significant development progress at home we continue to attract the visit of high level personnel to our country. During the course of the year we received several such persons. This includes US President George Bush, the first in twenty years to visit Liberia, President John Kufuor of Ghana, Former Presidents Jerry Rawlings, Nicephore Soglo, Joaquin Chissano, Ketumile Masire and Sam Nujoma of the Africa Forum; World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Former President of Finland Maarti Ahtisaari, FAO Director General Jacques Diouf, UNICEF Executive Director, Ann Veneman, US Congressional Delegation Head Senator Bill Nelson, Chairman of RLJ Companies, Robert Johnson; Soros Foundation Chairman George Soros, Millennium Village Founder, Professor Jeffery Sachs.
I was privileged to pay state visits to our Sisterly Republic of La Cote d’Ivoire and to the Republic of Namibia. I also had the opportunity to visit US President George Bush for the third and last time and to meet with former President Nelson Mandela and officials of the South African Government when I gave the 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in July as part of the celebration of President Mandela’s 90th birthday.
Other travels abroad aimed at participation in ECOWAS and African Union Meetings in Burkina Faso, Algeria, Egypt, the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Progressive Governance Summit in London, the Aid Effectiveness Forum in Accra, following which several Development Ministers from major partners visited Liberia, and the MDCB Conference in Copenhagen. I was also privileged to give commencement addresses at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and to three U.S. Universities – Brown and Indiana Universities and at Dartmouth College where I received Honorary Doctorate Degrees. I also gave the Commencement address and received an Honorary Degree from one of our own African Methodist University and was honored with prestigious award from four other international institutions including the International Crisis Group.
I am particularly pleased to report that under Liberia’s Chair of the Mano River Union (MRU), we witnessed the expansion of the Union in May last year with the accession of la Cote d’Ivoire as the fourth member state. Subsequently, at a summit of Heads of State in December in Sierra Leone in which President Gbagbo was personally in attendance. A plan of action which places emphasis on the agriculture and security sectors was agreed.
The Union continues to be faced with challenges, most recently the developments in the wake of the death of President Conteh of Guinea which the MRU countries are trying to manage.
